Lodging tax doing better in Cook County than in Ely area

In the first five months of 2010, Cook County appears to be doing better attracting overnight guests than the Ely area.

As of the end of May, the lodging tax that the Ely area had collected so far this year was down 16.2% from last year, the worst decline in the last 10 years for that period of the year.

Of the Cook County lodging establishments that had sent in their reports as of the end of May, the average change from last year in lodging tax income was -.1%.

The Lutsen-Tofte Tourism Association had brought in .5% less than the same time last year, and the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association had brought in .6% less than the same time last year. The Gunflint Trail Tourism Association had brought in 3.2% more, however.